Mother of a prisoner from 11J implores the Cuban people to unite for the freedom of her son.

Ángel Jesús Véliz Marcano, who participated in the historic protests of July 11 and 12, 2021, is on a hunger strike in Kilo 9 prison in Camagüey, demanding a change in the prison regime, which has been denied by the authorities despite his impeccable conduct.


Ailex Marcano Fabelo, mother of political prisoner Ángel Jesús Véliz Marcano, a demonstrator from the historic protests of July 11 and 12, 2021, called on the Cuban people this Monday to unite for the freedom of her son, for whose life and safety she fears, after learning that he has gone on a hunger strike in Kilo 9 prison in Camagüey.

Marcano posted on social media a letter written by his son, in which the young man announces that he is on a hunger strike, to demand that the prison authorities and State Security respect the prisoners' right to transition to a minimum-security regime, which would then allow them to gain access to parole.

Facebook Capture/Ailex Marcano Fabelo

"I am in a state of starvation (on hunger strike) to demand from the Cuban government, specifically from the penitentiary system and State Security, that both political prisoners and common prisoners be respected in their legitimate right to progress to the minimum security regime and then to have parole," wrote Véliz.

The political prisoner warned in his letter that, "even maintaining an impeccable conduct, progress is denied to us and Cuba is a society of Rights."

"I believe that this should not be trampled upon so brazenly, and without any reason, even more so with people we find in prison for thinking differently and demanding changes for our Cuba that is in such urgent need," Véliz stated in the letter.

His mother, who has been in the United States since May, where the regime forced her to exile, called this Monday on the Cuban people to unite in order to obtain the freedom of Véliz and all political prisoners.

"A Ángel Jesús, like so many other political prisoners, progress in the prison system is denied simply for thinking differently, for wanting a free Cuba, a better Cuba," Marcano said during a live broadcast on Facebook. "What they are doing to my son is an abuse, an abuse time and time again. They made us separate, and here I am in the United States, where they opened their doors to me. But my son is alone, practically alone over there, with his ideas, with his firm thinking."

With a tearful plea, Marcano asked for help "from all Cubans of good will" for his son's release. "Help, like they are currently doing for the singer, El Taiger, whom I hope can be saved because he is a human being," he expressed. "Demand freedom for my son, Ángel Jesús Véliz Marcano, who has been insisting on freedom for the people of Cuba for three years without stopping."

"Remember the prisoners as if they were yourselves. Prisons are a cemetery of the living. Please, SOS Cuba. Proof of life for my son, Ángel Jesús Véliz Marcano. I want him free," she exclaimed, overwhelmed by the situation of the young man.

He revealed that his sister called the Kilo 9 prison to inquire about Véliz's condition, and Jordan Escalona, the head of the prison, told her that she had to go in person and, without further ado, hung up the phone.

Marcano reiterated his denunciation of the dictatorship in Cuba and called for international help from human rights organizations.

"Please, everyone who listens to this video, share it, I am desperate. I am in the United States, far from my son because they did it this way. Dictators, abusers! Proof of life for my son, for Marcano, my son, of whom I am proud, but I have absolute terror for my son's life. Freedom for Ángel Jesús Véliz Marcano, freedom, a thousand times freedom!" she concluded.

Véliz was sentenced by the Castro regime to six years in prison for the alleged crimes of assault and public disorder after peacefully protesting on July 11, 2021, in Camagüey.

In prison, he has suffered abuse, torture, inhumane conditions, and illnesses, which his mother has reported on countless occasions, even before international human rights organizations.

Before his forced exile, Marcano was known for his leadership among the families of the 11J prisoners who demand their unconditional release from the Cuban government. For fervently calling for the freedom of her son and all Cuban political prisoners, she was harassed and detained by State Security in Camagüey.

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